The men’s Rugby World Cup is about to see some major changes. World Rugby has announced that the 2027 edition in Australia will now host 24 nations, four more than previously. The move aims to promote the growth and development of rugby worldwide.
At the same time, World Rugby also announced the creation of a new competition from 2026. This competition will bring together the ten best nations in the world, as well as two invited nations. It will take place in July and November, replacing the current tours. This initiative aims to strengthen the competitiveness of top teams and provide fans with more top matches throughout the year.
At the 2027 World Cup, the 24 teams will be divided into six groups of four, followed by the round of 16. The total duration of the competition will be reduced to six weeks, in order to promote a dynamic pace during the group stage. In addition, the minimum number of days of rest between matches will be maintained at five, as in the previous edition in France.
The new competition scheduled for 2026 will offer participating teams six matches each. The meetings will take place during the July and November windows, in the Southern Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere respectively. The competition will culminate with a final at the end of November, providing a high-level spectacle for rugby fans around the world.
This major change was negotiated on the sidelines of the World Cup in France, and it marks a new era for world rugby. With a focus on expanding the competition and improving the match schedule, World Rugby aspires to promote the continued growth of rugby around the world and provide increased opportunities for emerging nations.
These are exciting times for rugby fans around the world, as these new initiatives promise to boost the sport and create new opportunities for players, teams and fans. The next edition of the World Cup in Australia in 2027 will therefore be an event not to be missed, with more nations vying for the supreme title. Additionally, the new competition scheduled for 2026 will provide an even higher level of competition for top teams, creating an exciting year-round atmosphere for rugby fans.